More Than That

Meet Jayde

I trudged through the halls of this black torture hole they call school trying my best to be invisible, which is pretty hard when you're 235 pounds.

"Watch where you're going cow!" I heard from my biggest tormentor Ashanti Givens. She's been my bully since we were kids.

"No bitch, you watch where you're going!" I knew that voice, it was my cousin Heather. Heather was the complete opposite of me, she was thick not fat unlike me. Her skin was one beautiful tone, mine is too. It's probably the only beautiful thing about me. My skin is brown almost like chocolate. Other than that I'm just the school's fat girl. Heather slung her arm around my shoulder.

"You say anything else to my cousin and I won't hesitate to beat your ass." I said nothing, just held my head down in shame. Heather was always the outspoken one of us, me I'm just a shy sack of fat. I say nothing to her defending me, and just make my way to my locker. I just wanna get my stuff, and go home. I pass Heather and her boyfriend Trell trying not to be seen by some of the people they're with. Some of them are cool, but the others not so much.

"Jayde!" Damnit, I turn seeing Trell gesture me over. I reluctantly move my feet shuffling towards them.

"Hey Trell." I greet. He gets up hugging me.

"Why you not over here chilling with us?" He ask, but I don't event get to answer before somebody speaks.

"Don't nobody want that fat ass bitch over here!" I knew that voice, it was none other than August Alsina, would you believe there was a time when he was actually my best friend? I used to have the worlds biggest crush on him.

"Well I do!" Michael spoke up for me. He's one of the people that hangs with Trell that doesn't mind being around me.

"Well you the only one that want her huge ass over here."

"Well you must like my huge ass since this is the second time you've mentioned it." I gasped at my words, and covered my mouth. I don't know what came over me, I never spoke up for myself. I heard the ooohs of the few friends of Heather and Trell's that actually liked me. I turned on my heels trying to retreat quickly, but I was grabbed back, and spun to face August. I audibly gulped.

"Nah, don't get scared na' where that big shit you was jus' talkin'?" He asked in his thick New Orleans accent.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean, it wasn't." I was all over the place with my words, he just kept getting in my face. What do I do? What do I do?

"You ain't sorry, if you were you wouldn't a' said it. Ya ass lucky Yung don't hit females, cause if I did I a' be on ya ass right now." Before he could touch me Michael stepped in.

"Fuck out of her face nigga! I wish you would lay a damn hand on my sister." Michael, and I grew up together so he always looked out for me. Until middle school it was always me, him, Trell, and Heather, the four amigos. Until they got popular, then I faded into obscurity. They always tried to include me in their stuff, but I knew I wasn't welcomed by the others. Heather took Michael's spot in front of me.

"Alsina you even think about touching my cousin, and I promise you'll never touch a thing ever again." I was glad they were taking up for me, but they didn't need to lose their friends over me. I walked towards my car just to get stopped again. This time by him, God he was so cute he was almost beautiful. His tattooed exposed arms, pierced nose, chiseled jaw, Father forgive me for my thoughts.

"Jay you good?" He asked referring to the incident that just happened. I loved hearing that name he gave me. I shrug, not wanting to answer.

"Aye don't pay that nigga no mind." I never understood why he paid me any attention. I mean he was him, basketball playing, good looking, fine as hell him. And I was me, lazy, fat ass, unattractive me. I'm sure he's only nice to me cause he feels bad for me.

"Chris!" She screeches his name. Ugh that's the downside of his perfection, he's dating and her.

"I'm coming Ashanti." He held his finger up indicating for her to wait.

"Hurry up!" She yelled in frustration. I know it's out of frustration that he's talking to me.

"Like I said don't pay him no mind, and good job sticking up for yourself. You should do it more often." He said, I only nodded because I couldn't get any words out. He walked away going back to her, but not before turning around and smiling at me. I smiled back very small, while she sneered.

'He's mine.' She mouthed staring daggers at me. Why does she get him, oh yeah cause she's thick not fat unlike me, and pretty unlike me. Why would someone as great as him wanna be with somebody like me when he can have someone like her? Oh well, hi I'm Jayde, and this is my life. It sucks I know, and it'll never get better.